1
Explore Bustling Medieval Souqs
Indulge in the ultimate treasure hunt. Visiting the covered souqs (markets) of Damascus and Aleppo is a total immersion in the Middle Eastern experience. These orient dreams comprise a maze of alleyways, and brightly coloured stalls, and echo to the din of hagglers, and resonate with the heady scent of spices. Many wonders are to be found ranging from inlayed boxes, carpets and jewellery.
2
Stretch the Legs on Cultural Walking Tours
One of the best ways to get a feel for a country first hand and to engage the senses is to walk through the streets, visiting points of interest, stopping for a drink in a traditional café, browsing through a market, taking in the local colour, and enjoying the tantalizing aroma of hot shwarma and the strong scent of sweet coffee. Aleppo and Damascus are both wonderful venues for cultural walks.
3
Indulge Yourself at Character ‘Boutique’ Hotels
A stay at one of the small character hotels in Syria offers a real sense of place. Formerly the homes of the Syrian elite, these properties date from between the 16th to the 18th centuries and ooze traditional architectural style and character. The hotels typically feature: beautifully decorated interiors; antique furniture; personalized service; and wifi. Some even have their own private Turkish baths! This is an experience that offers a real immersion into Syria’s past while at the same time providing the comforts of the modern age.
4
Taste Fine Syrian Cuisine
Set the taste buds dancing with pleasure. Syrian cooking is Middle Eastern in style and noted throughout the region for its many mouth watering dishes. The range is enormous, and distinct regional differences exist between the two gourmet capitals of Damascus and Aleppo. We will take you to the best restaurants in both cities.
5
Uncover the Majesty of Imperial Rome
Syria was once one of the wealthiest parts of the Roman empire and was the birthplace of three of her emperors. A consequence of this imperial past are some of the finest Roman ruins surviving anywhere in the world. Sites range from the spectacular honey-coloured Palmyra in the Syria desert, to Apamea with its extensive rows of columns, and ancient Bosra where an almost intact Roman theatre is to be found.
6
Climb the Battlements of Crusader Castles
The First Crusade arrived in Syria in 1098 and established a presence in the Near East that was to last for the next 200 years. Occupying a vulnerable strip of land that hugged the Eastern Mediterranean littoral, the Crusader kingdom built several immensely strong castles to protect their lands. In the well preserved Syrian castles of Crac des Chevaliers, Qalaat Marqab, and Saladin’s castle are to be found some of the finest medieval fortifications ever constructed.
7
Follow in the Footsteps of St Paul
St Paul was famously converted while on the Road to Damascus, and you can still walk down Straight Street to the so-called house of Anaias. Christian churches, monasteries and villages still exist in many parts of Syria – and some date back to the 4th century making them some of the earliest examples of Christian architecture in existence!
8
Travel to the Dawn of Civilization
The soil of Syria saw the dawn of Western Civilization. The landscape is thick with sites of great antiquity, and in parts has been moulded by the man-made ‘tells’ (mounds) that mark the location of a settlements from the distant past. Three very antique sites in particular standout. While largely the preserve of the specialist, visits to the sites of Ugarit, Mari and Ebla serve to ‘place’ many wonderful items now seen in the museums of Damascus and Aleppo.
9
Venture Off the Beaten Track: The Dead Cities
The Byzantine legacy in Syria is extensive. Dotting the hilly countryside in the vicinity of Aleppo are the remains of over 700 deserted villages, towns and monastic settlements that are collectively known as the Dead Cities. In many cases it is still possible to walk along their streets and visit houses, churches, and tombs that are perfectly preserved except for their roofs. To the East the fortresses of Resafe and Halabiye occupy spectacular locations in the desert and by the Euphrates respectively.
10
Gaze on Stunning Islamic Architecture
Damascus and Aleppo are one of the world’s great repositories of Islamic architecture. The Beautiful mosques, towering minarets, finely carved caravanserais, covered souqs and traditional courtyard houses are exquisite. Damascus’ Umayyad Mosque is particularly notable. Constructed in the 8th century A.D it contains a stunning array of gold and coloured mosaics together with some exquisitely decorated interiors.
11
Ride the Hedjaz Railway
The legendary Hedjaz Railway originally connected Syria with Medina in Saudi Arabia. It was famously a target of T.E Lawrence during the 1917-18 Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks. The Hedjaz Railway Station in Central Damascus is a grand Ottoman building dating from 1917 with a fine ceiling and steam engine outside. Trains now leave from the suburb of Kadem for Homs, Hama and Aleppo.
12
Drink in the Atmosphere
Damascus’ Al-Nawfora coffee shop is an institution. Located in the heart of the old city by the Umayyad Mosque, this café is alive with local atmosphere and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by whilst enjoying a drink, or perhaps trying a nargile (waterpipe). Within the city’s souq al-Hamadiye is another institution Bakdash – famed for its delicious ice-cream. In Aleppo the bar of the Baron hotel, or one of the café’s around Saahat Al-Hatab, or in front of the citadel are recommended.
13
Experience a Turkish Bath (hammam)
Hammams (Turkish Baths) have been popular in the Middle East since Roman times. A visit provides an excellent opportunity to literally immerse yourself in local culture and receive a cleansing deep scrub at the same time. Both Damascus and Aleppo have several beautifully decorated authentic hammams dating from the Ottoman period and comprise cold, warm and hot rooms. There are separate hours for women and men.